Three Lessons from Lot’s Wife

This morning in my personal Bible study I was reading about the wife of Lot in Genesis 19. I read about how the angels were telling Lot and his family to get out of Sodom and Gomorrah because God was ready to destroy it! From what I was reading, Lot and his family literally were dragging their feet in leaving.

Lot had grown to love the cities he lived in and he planted his roots so deep there he just could not bring himself to put his hand on the door handle and walk out! In fact, he never did! As Genesis 19:16 says,

“And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.”

The only reason they got out was because the angels forced them out.

They were told where to go and given strict instructions, “Do not look back, no matter what, do not look back.”

If you are familiar with the story then you know what happened next. Fire and brimstone fell from heaven, consuming the two cities. Burning to a crisp the home Lot and his family shared, along with all of their earthly belongings.

As I try and put myself in the shoes of Lot and his family I can only imagine what they must have been hearing, or even feeling. Could they feel the heat from the raging fire? Could they hear the screams coming form the inhabitants? Lots wife just couldn’t take it anymore, she turned back. She disobeyed God, and looked back and as a result was turned into a pillar of salt.

I can’t imagine the thoughts of Lot and his daughters. They too were not allowed to look back, not even when their wife and mother became a pillar of salt. They had to just keep moving forward, heading to where the angels sent them. There they were, running for their lives, suddenly homeless, and without a wife and mother.

Here are a few applications I see from this true story recorded for us in Genesis.

1. When God says go, we ought to obey instantly and without hesitation! If we have received God’s gift of salvation, then this world is truly not our home! Our roots should not be so deeply planted that if God calls us to move on, we are unwilling to budge. The things of this world should not have such a choke-hold on us that we have such a difficult time saying “yes” to God and “no” to everything the world offers. Colossians 3:2, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

2. Don’t look back! The past is just that, the past! Remember when we were learning to drive? Yes, that scary and wonderful feeling of hanging onto a steering wheel for the first time was an exciting experience! What was it our driving instructor taught us though? Where your eyes are focused is where you will steer your vehicle! If you are constantly looking out the rear view mirror instead of keeping your eyes on the road in front of you, constantly looking to the right or left, the car will veer off the road or into another vehicle! Our eyes have to stay focused on where we are going. The same thing is true of our Christian walk. We cannot rely on past victories, we cannot rely on yesterdays prayers and Bible reading, we cannot keep looking back to “the good ole’ days”. We have to keep our eyes looking forward, keep pressing toward the mark! Philippians 3:13, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”

3. Even though we may not understand why God is asking us to step out on faith right then remember, He sees the bigger picture! He wants only the best for us and He is worthy of our trust. If we have accepted His gift of salvation that means we are trusting in Him for our eternity. If we trust Him for our eternity, how much more should we be able to trust Him for our day to day life! Trust His plans for your life! Is. 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.“

These are three simple and yet powerful truths! Be comforted and encouraged!

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One thought on “Three Lessons from Lot’s Wife”

I’m so thankful that He sees the bigger picture. I so often want to control or fix in my human nature. Resting in trust and provision is such a gift from Him. He’s got this! Thanks for your encouraging words today and have a wonderful week!